Five fired Memphis police officers have been charged with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man hospitalized after a traffic stop early this month.
Later in the story the Times points out
that the Biden Justice Department, at the agitation of activists, is opening a civil rights investigation. Prosecutors are apparently scrutinizing it under Section 242 ,a civil rights provision that makes it a crime for people acting willfully and under color of law (e.g.on-duty police officers) to deprive others of their federal civil rights.
What is the basis for believing that the police ( in this case all of them black)beat Nichols to his death because he was a black man?
The officers all have been fired and charged with second degree murder under Tennessee law, which can result in a death penalty or life imprisonment.
First degree murder requires malice aforethought.